Google has been slowly moving toward a mobile-first index for quite a while now. Google first hinted at their intentions of a mobile-first index about a year ago, but November 4 was the first time Google has posted details about the mobile-first index on their own blog.
So if you have been slow in joining the mobile revolution, now is the time to take action. As mobile continues to dominate search, Google and the other search engines are going to place more and more emphasis on mobile.
1. Speed
Optimize images. Large images can slow down a site. Optimizing images to be the correct size is a great quick win.
Minify code. This is the process of removing all unnecessary characters from source code without changing its functionality.
Leverage browser caching. Browser caching stores web page resource files on a local computer when a user visits a web page.
Reduce redirects. Too many redirects can cause the site to have to reload and slows down the experience.
2. Don’t block CSS, JavaScript or images
Smartphones are, in many cases, more powerful than the computers owned by users. They can handle nearly anything we throw at them. The smartphone GoogleBot can also handle them and wants to be able to see and categorize the same content that users do. So make sure that you don’t hide them.
3. Mobile design
SEO has really transitioned from a technical skill to an art. Today’s SEO has to know and understand more than just code and ranking signals; they have to know how to use design to influence rankings
Never use Flash. Apple killed Flash for mobile. Since many mobile users can’t view Flash elements on their phones, you need to remove them. It’s better to use HTML 5 or Java to add your extra cool elements.
Get rid of pop-ups. Lead generation is important, but if your mobile site is overloaded with pop-ups, you’re going to frustrate your users, and they will leave. This will guarantee a higher bounce rate and decreased rankings. So just dump your pop-ups on mobile.
Design for “the finger.” Since your mobile users have to navigate with their finger, make sure your design is “finger-friendly.” Accidental taps are annoying, so make sure they can scroll and tap with ease.
4. On-page optimization
When it comes to mobile SERPS (search engine results pages), you have less room to work with. So make sure that you keep your titles and descriptions concise and to the point.
5. Local optimization
In September, Google released “Possum,” a massive update to the local search algorithm. Mobile search is crucial for businesses looking to drive foot traffic into their stores. Google’s research into local search behavior shows that local searchers are ready to take action.
Here are a few things you should implement to increase your mobile visibility:
City and state in the title tag
City and state in the H1 heading
City and state in the URL
City and state in content
City and state in the alt tags
City and state in the meta description
Business Name, Phone and Address
Courtesy of SearchEngineLand
